Desert Rock, Gravel and Soil Delivery in Las Vegas, NV

Dry air over slow-draining silt

The NOAA normals station at N Las Vegas, NV, about 4 miles away, averages just 4.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snowfall. A lawn or garden here runs almost entirely on irrigation, which is why rock and gravel cover so much of the ground in desert yards.^[1]

That same station logs 18 days a year with a low of 32 F or colder. The median last spring freeze is February 1, and the median first fall freeze is December 8. Light winter frost can still nip tender plants, but it rarely affects a gravel base.^[1]

When rain does come, it can arrive as a short, intense storm. Hard, dry ground sheds that water fast, so even a desert yard needs a planned path for runoff.^[1]

The USDA survey maps the center point of ZIP 89101 as Land silt loam, drained, with the Land series making up 100 percent of the unit. Its top mineral layer is a silt loam, rated somewhat poorly drained, in hydrologic group C, the class with slow infiltration.^[2]

Shrink-swell is moderate, with a linear extensibility of 4.5 percent in the top 100 cm. Silt loam with that rating swells when irrigation or a storm soaks it and shrinks back as it dries, which can tilt a thin slab or a loosely laid paver patio over a few seasons.^[2]

The ground at the center point stands 1,900 feet above sea level.^[3]

A test hole shows what you have before ordering. Silt that stays wet and sticky a day after watering calls for a fabric layer and a thicker base, while drier, firmer ground can take a standard one.^[2]

Slow drainage and moderate swelling point to the same habits: keep irrigation away from foundations and slabs, build bases on fabric, and give every surface a slight fall so water moves off instead of soaking in.^[2]

Desert landscaping, dust and wind

Rock is the main ground cover in a low-water yard. River Rock looks clean around shrubs and cactus, fills dry creek beds and handles roof runoff without washing away. Decomposed Granite makes firm, natural paths and patios that need no watering. Riprap anchors a slope or the outlet of a drainage channel.^[1]

Lay a landscape fabric under decorative rock to slow weeds and keep the stone from sinking into the silt. Cut holes in the fabric for plants, and run drip lines under the rock so water reaches roots without wetting the surface.^[2]

Rock mulch also cuts weed growth and holds the soil in place during summer wind, and it never needs replacing the way bark mulch does under strong sun.^[1]

Pea Gravel and 3/8" Crushed Stone suit small courtyards and side yards. They stay cooler underfoot than paving, drain well and are easy to rake smooth after a windy day.^[1]

Bare silt loam in a dry climate turns to dust on windy days. A cover of rock, Decomposed Granite or mulch on every open patch keeps soil on the ground and out of the house. Stone Dust Screenings packed firm make a low-dust surface for side yards, trash pads and utility areas.^[1],[2]

Wet the ground lightly before spreading any fine material, and tamp Decomposed Granite and screenings in thin layers so the surface binds instead of blowing away.^[1]

Decomposed Granite versus Pea Gravel for paths

Decomposed Granite is fine, gritty material that binds when wetted and compacted. A path of it feels firm, wheelchair and stroller wheels roll across it, and it blends with desert plantings. On slow-draining silt loam, lay it over a packed base so it does not turn soft after a storm.^[2]

Pea Gravel is round and loose, so it never packs into a crust. It drains instantly and feels soft to walk on, but it shifts underfoot and wanders off the path without solid edging.^[2]

Choose Decomposed Granite for main walks, patios and areas that need a firm surface. Choose Pea Gravel for sitting areas, play corners and spaces where drainage matters most.^[1]

Drives, pools and patios

A gravel drive on silt loam needs fabric underneath and a packed base of Road Base or Crushed Concrete. Spread the base in thin lifts, wet each one lightly and run a plate compactor over it until it stops moving. Dry silt packs poorly, so a little water during compaction goes a long way.^[1],[2]

Finish with Driveway Gravel or 3/4" Crushed Stone. Light-colored stone reflects sun and stays cooler than dark paving. Asphalt Millings make a firm, dark surface that binds well in hot weather, though it soaks up more heat.^[1]

Somewhat poorly drained silt can stay soft for days after a storm or a broken irrigation line. Building the drive slightly above grade, rather than cutting it in, keeps the base out of that wet zone.^[2]

Give the drive a crown or cross slope and a stone-lined edge so the rare heavy storm runs off without cutting ruts.^[2]

Pool decks and patios see splash water and irrigation spray nearly every day, which keeps the silt loam beneath them damp. A gravel border of River Rock or Pea Gravel around the hardscape catches that water and lets it soak away from the slab rather than under it.^[2]

Under pavers, lay fabric over firm soil, pack a solid base of Road Base, screed a thin bed of Concrete Sand and lock the edges. A deeper base than usual helps on silt loam that swells, and a slight fall away from the pool keeps water moving.^[2]

Trees, shade beds and irrigation

Planted beds in a desert yard need imported soil to hold water and food. Fill raised beds or planting pockets with Garden Soil, or mix Compost into the native silt loam before planting. Top the soil with mulch or rock to cut evaporation in the summer sun.^[1],[2]

Wood Chips under trees and in shade beds keep roots cool and break down slowly. Black Shredded Mulch or Brown Shredded Mulch looks neat in small beds near the house. Keep drip emitters under the mulch so water goes into the soil instead of evaporating.^[1]

Plant cold-tender plants after the median last spring freeze of February 1 at the North Las Vegas station, and protect them again ahead of the median first fall freeze of December 8.^[1]

Housing in ZIP 89101

The Census counts 18,050 housing units in ZIP 89101. Detached single-family houses make up 24 percent of them, and the median home was built in 1974. Owners occupy 19 percent of the lived-in homes.^[4]

Las Vegas as a whole has 267,654 housing units, with 62 percent detached. The median build year across the city is 1994.^[4]